Brett Favre Sort of Apologizes, We Sort of Believe Him

As a Chicago native, I’m predisposed toward hating Brett Favre, so I’ll apologize in advance for my skepticism whenever he does something that appears to be gentlemanly and classy. In a radio interview Thursday, he took responsibility for his bitter 2007 split with the Green Bay Packers, a position he’s been reluctant to take before. Many sports headlines have boiled his statement down to four words: “I was at fault.”

But in context, Favre isn’t so clear about accepting blame, and he still places a lot of weight on the shoulders of the Packers’ management: “It is what it is. It’s over and done with. I was at fault. I feel that both sides had a part in it. If you could go back would I or them have done things differently? I’m sure both sides would.”

It’s great to see him acknowledge that he made mistakes, when in the past he’s implied that he was drummed out of Green Bay for no reason, but he still sees the Packers as partially culpable. That’s realistic and honest, but it’s not the heroic reversal some people are reading it as.

Favre went on to speak highly of Aaron Rodgers, who was openly disgruntled during Favre’s last years on the team, feeling that the increasingly worn-down Favre needed to step aside. According to Favre, they talk on the phone all the time now and are BFFs. This is where I get skeptical, because Favre is trying to convince the Packers to retire his jersey number. Humility and a good relationship with Rodgers will help, and he knows it. Soul-searching this well-timed always smells fishy.